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Coordinates: 51°14′26″N 0°05′57″W / 51.2406, -0.0992

Bletchingley
Bletchingley shown within Surrey
Population	3,147[1]
OS grid reference	TQ327507
District	Tandridge
Shire county	Surrey
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Redhill
Postcode district	RH1
Dialling code	01883
Police	Surrey
Fire	Surrey
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	East Surrey
List of places: UK • England • Surrey

Bletchingley (or Blechingley) is a village in Surrey, England. It is on the A25 road to the east of Redhill and to the west of Godstone.

History

The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred.

The settlement appears in the Domesday Book as Blachingelei. It was held by Richard de Tonebrige. Its Domesday Assets were: 3 hides; 14 ploughs, 17 acres (69,000 m²) of meadow, woodland worth 58 hogs. Also 7 houses in London and Southwark. It rendered (in total): £15 13s 4d.^[2]

The settlement appears in the Domesday Book as Blachingelei. It was held by Richard de Tonebrige. Its Domesday Assets were: 3 hides; 14 ploughs, 17 acres of meadow, woodland worth 58 hogs. Also 7 houses in London and Southwark. It rendered (in total): £15 13s 4d.^[3]

In 1225 there is mention of Bletchingley as a borough. In the Middle Ages a borough was created either by the King or one of the Lords as a potentially profitable element in the development of their estates.

It appears that after the 14th century Bletchingley began to lose its importance as a borough, perhaps losing out to the market town of Reigate. At one point it was a rotten borough! Parliamentary elections were held in what is now the White Hart.

A number of public footpaths and bridleways can be found both to the north and south of the village which not only allow access to the countryside but also provide the opportunity to stumble across some other interesting buildings.

The house at Place Farm formed the gatehouse of Blechingley Place: a great Tudor house, which Anne of Cleves occupied after her marriage to Henry VIII was annulled. Anne of Cleves originated from a small town called Kleve, in what is now Germany.

This long history means that it is still possible to see several buildings that date back to around 1500 in the High Street area. Also to the north can be found Brewer Street Farm (15th century) and the Old Rectory (1786).

The village was formerly a parliamentary borough and elected two members to the unreformed House of Commons.

Today

The nearest railway station, Nutfield is about 3 km or 2 miles (3.2 km) away in South Nutfield.

Bletchingley today still manages to keep in touch with its medieval roots and strives to maintain the character of the village. The central part of the village is a conservation area and is set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

References

1. ^ Census data
2. ^ Surrey Domesday Book
3. ^ Surrey Domesday Book

External links

• Village official website
• Bletchingley Web

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